Note: the intent of this site
is not to duplicate the fine work being done elsewhere (links
to other sites are at the bottom of this page). But rather to
supplement it with housing offers, offers for disability consultation,
and to help fill in gaps missing in many other sites.

What's New:

9/17/05: We are working with the Environmental
Health Network to provide supplies for Katrina survivors with Multiple
Chemical Sensitivity. If you have scent-free/chemical-free supplies to
donate, let us know. We could use your financial support as well to cover
the costs of purchasing and mailing supplies. Even a dollar or two is
useful because it adds up. Currently mailing checks is the only way to
send money to EHN, but hopefully they'll get PayPal or some other internet
account up soon. Please send checks directly to: EHN, P.O. Box 1155, Larkspur,
CA 94977-1155. Be sure to state this is for Katrina.

Federal Aid:

Every hurricane survivor with a disability MUST register
to be able to receive the full range of federal disaster relief assistance.
Here are the FEMA registration numbers. Registrants MUST make it clear
that they have a disability or chronic health care need.
1/800-621-FEMA
1/800-462-9029
1/800-462-7585 TDD/TTY http://www.fema.gov/about/process/
(For on-line registration)

Toll-free Hotline:

By dialing 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255), callers will be connected
to a network of local crisis centers across the country that are committed
to crisis counseling. Callers to the hotline will receive counseling from
trained staff at the closest certified crisis center in the network. From
the Department of Health and Human Services.

Social Security, Medicaid:

If you receive social security benefits, Social Security Administration
is working to ensure that individuals continue to receive their retirement
or disability checks.
More information is at: www.socialsecurity.gov/emergency/
1-800-325-0778 TTY
1-800-772-1213 Voice

Dr. Margaret Giannini, Director of the US HHS Office on Disability, 202-205-1016.

Centers for Independent Living:

The National Spinal Cord Injury Association writes: "We need to
provide a clear picture of the actual needs in the affected states and
in the receiving states. Please send me the following information ASAP
so we can make our case for disability specialists to be put into place
to address disability specific issues from an advocacy perspective to
address both medical and non-medical needs. I need as much information
as possible in the following categories: Location (town, state), Current
living situation, Disability Immediate needs (medicine, food, water, sterile
catheters, DME wheelchairs, air mattresses, seat cushions, for example),
Additional needs (accessible housing, special education services, for
example), Age, Single or family/companions. If you are a CIL or other
service provider, what is your current situation? What staffing and other
resources (computers, cell/SAT phones for example) are needed? Address,
phone, email, Anything else that will help decision makers to address
the additional disability specific needs of survivors. Please send to
mroth@spinalcord.org.
You can reach me at 301 990-6559 or 301 717-7447. Thanks! Marcie Roth
Executive Director/CEO National Spinal Cord Injury Association 6701 Democracy
Blvd. Suite 300-9 Bethesda, MD 20817 (301) 717-7447 (Direct) (301) 214-4006
(VM) (301) 963-1265 (Fax) (800) 962-9639 (Helpline) mroth@spinalcord.orgwww.spinalcord.org."

Justice For All Email List, part
of the American Association for People with Disabilities, has an announcement-only
internet mailing list with many posts relating to Katrina recovery. Archives
available.

katrinadisability
is a listserve for all who are interested in discussion and problem-solving
for the urgent and emergent issues of hurricane survivors with disabilities.
You may select either individual emails or daily digests. To subscribe,
send an e-mail to this address: katrinadisability-subscribe@yahoogroups.com